Udon Gama-Dashi Kapahulu

“ I really like this place! I had a really enjoyable meal here. I have to say the portions are kind of small for a Hawaii place, but just order 2 items - which I did. I really like the flavor of the food and the people here are really nice! You order at the counter and eat your food at the tables. They said they are from Hakata and that gets me close to my first Fukuoka experiences!!! They even have a Tonkotsu udon and I'm not sure they could replicate the delicious tonkotsu broth from Fukuoka - maybe next time. But for now, delicious food. A couple of things brought the score down a little. The udon noodles while delicious didn't have that "chew" that really good noodles seem to have and their pickles selection is small. Their kimchi is very bad tasting (I know, that's Korean, but they offer it). But overall, very good and I'd like to go again!!! They have somewhat strict parking there - make sure you do the QR code and register - but it's free. I like this place!!!! ”

“ First time. Dine in. Small parking. Free shared parking one hour. Found parking on side street. Lot was full. Dinner time. Portions and prices are okay. Rewards stamp card for udon purchased. 15 stamps to fill up for free udon. Ordered: Ebiten udon, Regular and Large $11.75, $13 Curry udon, Large $13.25 For dine in, after ordering, cashier will give you a buzzer, for food pick up when ready. Restroom located inside restaurant. Take out available. Self service water, utensils, napkins, tempura sauce, tempura topping. Area to return tray, bowls after done Enjoyed the udon here. Highly recommend. ”

“ Very clean Pricing is great Friendly Tempura done well especially gobo Tendon was the best Rice not to wet and sauce was perfect Definitely on our go to list!! ”

“ How did I not know this place existed? My mom found this online. We had goboten udon in Hakata (not knowing it supposedly originated there?), so we went for lunch. The restaurant is quaint and IMMACULATE. It's so bright and clean in there. There's one booth and a bunch of tables, and a water/utensil station at the end. You can take a menu or look up to order. You walk up to the cashier and place your order, then they will buzz you when your food is ready. In the meantime you can fill out the parking QR code thing. Parking is free in the small lot outside, but I guess they want every car to register? We ordered goboten udon, zucchini tempura, tuna mayo musubi, and a katsudon. The katsudon was a little pricey for a small bowl but my dad enjoyed it. I liked the goboten udon - the gobo is nice and crispy, but not easy to eat so keep that in mind. The broth is light, with a hint of bonito, but not overly fishy. The noodles were a miss for me - overcooked I think. They should be springy. The musubi was just ok, I probably wouldn't get it again. The zucchini was so good though! That particular piece was so sweet and flavorful. I liked that there is a condiment station where you can add togarashi and tenkasu, as well as get a cup for your tempura dipping sauce. It's very Japanese - you pick up your food and you put your tray in the return area when you are done eating. But the staff were so friendly. I would come back again, and maybe try the curry broth? Overall, a good find. It is like Marugame style, but a bit pricier. However, we didn't wait in that ridiculous waikiki line! ”

“ Don't miss the driveway entrance like I did - twice - but tucked away in an unassuming corner adjacent to Honu Kalbi and Sushi, Udon Gama-dashi is a hidden gem that brings the historic flavors of Hakata udon to life. Hakata, known as the birthplace of Japanese udon, traces its noodle heritage back to 1241 when the monk Soichi Kokushi introduced milling techniques from the Song Dynasty. From there, udon culture spread across Japan, but here at Gama-dashi, you get to experience the tradition in its purest form. The restaurant's name, Gama-dashi, pays homage to the art of hot udon served in a pot, emphasizing the soul of Japanese cuisine--the dashi broth. Here, the hallmark of Hakata udon shines: thick yawamochi noodles with a soft, elastic chew, and a delicate, clear broth that bursts with the umami of dried fish and kelp. I opted for the Ebi Tempura & Avocado Tsuyukake Udon in a large size ($16.25), which felt like a steal at just $1.25 more than the medium. The tsuyukake broth--a fragrant dashi enriched with daikon oroshi, ginger, lemon, and green onion--arrived in a separate stone cup with a spout, allowing me to pour it over the noodles at my own pace. Each element in the bowl was carefully curated for both taste and texture. The shrimp tempura was nothing short of perfection--light, crisp, and golden, standing as a dish on its own yet seamlessly complementing the warm, silky broth. The avocado, firm yet buttery, added an unexpected richness that withstood the heat of the noodles, enhancing the dish rather than disappearing into it. A squeeze of lemon and the aromatic garnishes brightened the deep umami flavors, creating an intricate balance between lightness and depth. I love that Japanese cuisine places great importance on aesthetics, and this bowl of udon was no exception. The dish was beautifully plated in a stone bowl, its rustic elegance framing the golden tempura, vibrant avocado, and glistening noodles. Before I even took my first bite, the presentation alone prepared my palate for a harmonious experience. The staff was friendly and gracious, offering warm smiles and a welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant maintains a self-service setup for water, chopsticks, napkins, and extra tempura flakes--a thoughtful touch for those who love a little extra crunch in their udon. When I first walked in, I didn't know I had to order first, before seating myself at a table. Upon ordering, I was given a hand "buzzer" which vibrated when my order was ready to pick up at the kitchen. When I realized that the self-service set-up was a conscious choice to enable the chefs to be busy in the kitchen than waiting on customers and to keep the prices reasonable, I wasn't so put-off by the concept. Be sure to scan the parkwiz.com "Parking QR code inside the store to create a "parking pass" on your phone so you can show it to the management company who monitors people who are parking there but patronizing businesses elsewhere. Stepping back into the chilly night air with a full and satisfied belly, I found myself already anticipating my next visit to Udon Gama-dashi, where history and tradition meet warmth and flavor in a way that truly honors Hakata's udon legacy. ”

“ A friend of mine told me this restaurant was comparable to the Marugame Udon in Waikiki. I was intrigued, so we paid a visit during one of my visits. It's located in the lot that had been vacate for years next to Ono Seafood. Glad to see that there was a new structure there now! It's next to Pai Cafe. There's a small parking lot for customer parking in the plaza. I got their regular Goboutem Udon with a salmon onigiri and squid tempura. I didn't realize that gobou was burdock root and that it was kind of bitter.... LOL. I ended up giving the gobou, the star of my meal, to one of my friends as I didn't like the bitterness with my noodles and broth (whoops). The udon broth wasn't oily at all which impressed me. I noticed the one I specifically chose had Hakata flavors which was quite unique compared to other "quick" udon restaurants. The noodles were nice and chewy, indicating freshness. The squid tempura was big, crunchy, and fresh. The salmon onigiri was okay - there was a ton of rice compared to salmon which was kind of disappointing. But the flavor of the onigiri was delicious. Overall, I thought the meal was overall kind of pricey especially since there are other udon restaurant that are much cheaper. But in a sense, I felt that we were paying for quality over quantity here! ”

“ We ate last weekend for dinner. It was kind of a chilly kind of night so we wanted some kind of soup. I looked up it up on Yelp and found Udon Gama-Dashi Kapahulu. It was a little difficult to find the place because it's on Kapahulu Ave a very busy street. We passed it on the first try but it was okay because we turned around and then we were on the right side of the restaurant so we didn't need to make a left turn. Udon Gama Dashi is in that parking lot that I think once had Soccer Locker long ago. Probably dating myself when I say that because it was the original soccer locker. The building is a lot nicer and it looks a lot nicer now. I think it also used to have Papa John's too. It looks like Udon Gama Dashi was in the Shirokiya dining area in Ala Moana before. Not sure if I tried their udon there since there were so many choices there. It was nice in their restaurant. The parking situation was great and we got there early so there was a lot of seats available. They have many choices and they serve a skinnier udon noodle. My daughter got the tempura udon, I got the udon with mochi, and my husband got the niku gobouten. You order at the counter and they give you a buzzer. It didn't take long for them to make the meals and it was good. We all really loved the broth and the noodles. I think my daughter wanted to trade because she didn't like that her shrimp was in her broth. She's very particular about that. So she didn't like her shrimp soggy. She saw the mochi in mine and wanted to take it. Mine had three pieces of mochi in it and it was good. I enjoyed eating it and slurping the broth with it. I also tasted my husband's fried gobo from his. It was very good, he ate all of his udon too. Overall great place. I'm glad I was able to find this place on Yelp. The price was very reasonable and the service and food was great . ”

“ Now this is truly a hidden gem. It's a small, hole in the wall restaurant that's clean and friendly. I had it back to back with marugame (my usual go to) and it did not disappoint. The dashi flavor was much much more complex and the quality of the ingredients just seemed much better as well. Highly recommend the nikutama tsuyukake cold. It felt much more authentic to Japanese udon and every bite was great. Though the noodles could be a little chewier, they were still tasty and not too overcooked at all. ”

“ Always on my radar finally got to check them out today for lunch .Udon Gama Dashi on Kapahuluu right next door to Honu Kalbi . Their set up is order first then you can select sides of various tempura's then pay the cashier. When finish you need to return your Bowl or dishes to a designated area . I ordered a hot Kitsune Udon w/ a side shrimp tempura and imitation crab tempura. My wife had their Mentai butter udon comes with a half cooked boiled egg plus spicy cod roe something different. Very friendly staff and reasonable prices . Support local ”